*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 8, 2018* *The Little Things*Like most people, we have found that we can take our big lumps as they come. But also like others, we often discover a greater challenge in the lesser and more continuous problems of life. Our answer is in still more spiritual development. Only by this means can we improve our chances for really happy and useful living.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 114 Thought to PonderLife is a steady drizzle of small things -- carry an umbr ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 7, 2018* *Essentials of Recovery*Most emphatically we wish to say that any alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does not close his mind to all spiritual concepts. He can only be defeated by an attitude of intolerance or belligerent denial. We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program.Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But thes ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 6, 2018* *Prayer and Meditation*But we recoiled from meditation and prayer as obstinately as the scientist  who refused to perform a certain experiment lest it prove his pet theory wrong.  Of course we finally did experiment, and when unexpected results followed, we felt  different; in fact we knew different; and so we were sold on meditation and prayer.  And that, we have found, can happen to anybody who tries. It has been well said that  ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 5, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Daily Practice*The joy of living is the theme of A.A.'s Twelfth Step, and action is its key word. Here we turn outward toward our fellow alcoholics who are still in distress. Here we experience the kind of giving that asks no rewards. Here we begin to practice all Twelve Steps of the program in our daily lives so that we and those about us may find emotional sobriety. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 106 Thought to Pond ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 4, 2018* *Self-Confidence*When first challenged to admit defeat, most of us revolted. We had approached A.A. expecting to be taught self-confidence.  Then we had been told that so far as alcohol is concerned,  self-confidence was no good whatever; in fact, it was a total liability.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 22 Thought to PonderTake a walk with God.  He will meet you at the Steps. AA-related 'Alconym'*W O W  =  W*illingness&nb ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 3, 2018* *Step Eight*“Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.” What real harm, therefore, had we done? No more, surely, than we could easily mend with a few casual apologies. This attitude, of course, is the end result of purposeful forgetting. It is an attitude which can only be changed by a deep and honest search of our motives and actions. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 79 Thought to PonderA fear f ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 2, 2018* *New Foundation*By now the newcomer has probably arrived at the following conclusions: that his character defects, representing instincts gone astray, have been the primary cause of his drinking and his failure at life; that unless he is now willing to work hard at the elimination of the worst of these defects, both sobriety and peace of mind will still elude him; that all the faulty foundation of his life will have to be torn out and built anew on bedroc ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 1, 2018* *Pride*Pride lures us into making demands upon ourselves or upon others which  cannot be met without perverting or misusing our God-given instincts.  When the satisfaction of our instincts for sex, security, and society becomes  the sole object of our lives, then pride steps in to justify our excesses.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 49 Thought to PonderThe difference between pride and humility: Pride is who is right. Humility is wh ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 31, 2018* *Temptation*In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods. These attempts to do the impossible have always failed. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 101 Thought to PonderFaith makes the impossible possible. AA-related 'Alconym'* ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 30, 2018* *Attitudes*We are careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking as an institution. Experience shows that such an attitude is not helpful to anyone. Every new alcoholic looks for this spirit among us and is immensely relieved when he finds we are not witchburners. A spirit of intolerance might repel alcoholics whose lives could have been saved, had it not been for such stupidity. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 103 Thought to PonderLove and tolera ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) July 29, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Daily Inventory*Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. - Alc ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 28, 2018* *Give and Receive*To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled, to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in full citizenship, and above all to watch these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives—these things are the substance of what we receive as we carry A.A.'s message to t ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 27, 2018* *Step Five*"Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." Somehow, being alone with God doesn't seem as embarrassing as facing up to another person. Until we actually sit down and talk aloud about what we have so long hidden, our willingness to clean house is still largely theoretical. When we are honest with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God. - Twelv ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 26, 2018* *Making Amends*Rarely do we fail to make satisfactory progress. Our former enemies sometimes praise what we are doing and wish us well. Occasionally, they will offer assistance. It should not matter, however, if someone does throw us out of his office. We have made our demonstration, done our part. It’s water over the dam. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 78 Thought to PonderIt is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for the ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 25, 2018* *Faith and Courage*The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 68 Thought to PonderCourage is faith that has said its prayers. AA-related 'Alconym'*F A I T ...Continue Reading